Activists fear new South Africa coalition government could reduce its commitment to Palestine cause

Pro-Palestine activists in South Africa are voicing scepticism over the Government of National Unity (GNU)'s foreign policy, fearing that the new coalition might downgrade the country's historic support for the Palestinian struggle.

They are concerned the new African National Congress-led (ANC) government might shift its stance after failing to secure an absolute majority in the 29 May 2024 general elections.

This failure culminated in the formation of a coalition government with other political parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), known for its support for Israel.

The composition of the GNU's executives is concerning for some civic organizations like the South African Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (SABDS) Coalition. 

“We are sure that no post-Apartheid South African government will want to stand on the wrong side of history," Roshan Dadoo of SABDS told The New Arab, but qualified: “The SABDS Coalition calls on the incoming government to express its support for our legal team at the ICJ and take all measures to ensure our country is not complicit in Apartheid Israeli’s genocide of the Palestinian people in line with our international obligations".

“Failure to do so will damage our country’s international reputation and serve to mobilize South Africans against the GNU. The vast majority of our people support the just struggle of the Palestinian people and oppose genocide. For us it is a red line.”

The GNU government has yet to comment publicly on the situation in Gaza or the ICJ proceedings since its formation.

The SABDS have praised President Cyril Ramaphosa for appointing Ronald Lamola as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation. Minister Lamola in his former role as Minister of Justice, had shown his commitment to ending the Israeli state's genocide, apartheid, and occupation at the International Court of Justice.

However, the pro-Palestine activist group have expressed their dissatisfaction with the appointment of Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton Mckenzie as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture. 

Mackenzie, who officially joined cabinet on July 2, has openly expressed his sympathies for Israel, going as far as to offer it 'prayers'. Mackenzie talso made a controversial   visit to Israel recently together with his deputy, Kenny Kunene.

"In visiting Israel, McKenzie and Kunene are endorsing and legitimizing a state that is practicing the crime against humanity of Apartheid as defined in the UN Apartheid Convention," Dadoo of the SABDS said.

Dadoo added that given Mckenzie’s relationship with Israel, it is ironic that he is heading a ministry that should be lobbying for boycotting Israel in arts, sports and culture, a key demand for the pro-Palestine movement.

“South Africa is expected to be at the forefront of calling for the apartheid, genocidal state to be kicked out of the upcoming Olympics and FIFA games and for it to implement a sports boycott policy.”

Pro-BDS legislation

Muminah Salie of the University of Cape Town told TNA that civil society will now need to ramp up their lobbying to pressure the ANC to honor its longstanding support for Palestine.

“Since the GNU is new, we are not sure what its stand is, while the ANC has not made any formal statement that I know of regarding Palestine [since the election]". 

“The ANC has historically been pro-Palestine since apartheid, and I don’t think they will be changing their stance," she added.

"But the amount of work they will be doing with regard to pro-Palestinian activities or activism might change since the GNU will need to put any government decision to a vote and that vote will include the DA who has been pro-Israel and has been saying that South Africa should focus on its own problems...we shall have to wait and see.”

Salie added, “From the civic society perspective it means we can’t rely on our government to do anything anymore. We actually have now to take things into our hands and put more pressure on the government to act and that means we need to acknowledge that the ICJ was not the end what SA can do about Palestine".

For his part, Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) chairperson, Martin Jansen feared that the ANC might use the GNU to skirt its pledges to Palestine.

He told TNA, “As the PSC, we’re very much concerned about the GNU, especially the composition because the two biggest parties are the ANC and the DA with the DA virtually having a veto in terms of its agreement regarding decision making. We are concerned about what this means, firstly with the government’s case at ICJ.

“The history of the ANC government except the case at the ICJ, up to now has done nothing tangible to pressurize Israel to stop its ongoing incremental genocide which has been going since 1947-48...the government should have expelled the Israeli ambassador to South Africa and enforced boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel. We haven’t been impressed by the ANC government.”

Specifically, Jansen cited the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Ministry of Justice, which he says have done nothing to arrest and prosecute South Africans serving in the Israel occupation forces, as an example of the South African government's reluctance to take further meaningful action against Israel.

"The DA has given its support for and defended Israel for many years and has Zionists in its ranks. Then our government will use the DA as a cover for its inaction against Israel," he claimed.

Jansen said the PSC had entered into an agreement with several political parties to adopt legislation in the new government on full boycott, divestment and sanctions.

“All the pro-Palestine supporting parties did sign that pledge including the ANC and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), these parties have a majority in parliament. We’re hoping that the ANC will not use the GNU agreement they have with the DA as an excuse not to proceed on the basis of what they committed themselves to by signing the pledge. We are planning to make them be accountable for that.”

He said the PSC hoped to submit a draft bill to these parties in July.

“After that, we expect them to submit it to parliament for debate and eventually adoption as soon as possible. Failing that we will then step up protests and various campaigns to get them to adopt the legislation for the BDS,” said Jansen. 

The New Arab has contacted the South African Ministry of International Cooperation for comment but has not received a response by publication time.